SRINAGAR: Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, one of the largest tertiary care hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir, is operating under severe staff shortage, with nearly 400 posts currently lying vacant.
The information through a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by activist M M Shuja, reveals critical gaps in staffing across multiple departments.
The vacant posts include Deputy Medical Superintendent, Assistant Surgeons, Senior and Junior Grade Nurses, Pharmacists, ECG Assistants, Laboratory Assistants, Radiotherapy Assistants, Drivers, Laundry Operators, Multitasking Staff, Cooks, Sweepers, and others.
The hospital operates four drug counters: two Amrit Drug Counters, one Hospital Drug Counter, and one Jan Aushadhi Counter.
In 2023–24, the hospital’s Outpatient Department (OPD) saw 9,86,174 patients, while 1,08,000 were treated in the Inpatient Department (IPD). In 2024 so far, 8,25,070 OPD patients and 93,000 IPD patients have been recorded. A total of 3,521 deaths were reported in 2023 and 2,214 in 2024.
Around 21,000 surgeries were performed in 2023 and approximately 17,000 in the past year despite the staffing shortfall.
A senior hospital official said that, despite the constraints, the hospital has managed to carry out a significant number of surgeries. “From general surgeries to specialised procedures, our doctors and staff have performed consistently. However, the shortage of personnel is affecting efficiency and overall patient care,” he said.
A doctor at the hospital, requesting anonymity, said the facility serves thousands of patients daily from across the Kashmir Valley. “When so many posts remain vacant in a major hospital, patient care suffers, procedures are delayed, and staff are overburdened,” the doctor added.
Patients and attendants also reported that the staff shortage leads to delays in diagnostics, consultations, and follow-up services. (KNO)
